Milk pumping apparatus



Feb. 19, 1957 B. J. MOGOVERN ErAL 2,781,798

' MILK PUMPING APPARATUS Filed April 1o, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 1 IFI Feb- 19, 1957 B. J. MGGovERN ETAL. 2,781,798

MILK PUMPING APPARATUS Filed April l0, 1953 2 Seecs-SheeiI 2 `2,781,798 MILK PUMPING ArrmurrusA Bernard J. McGovern, Chicago, Sigmund P. Sikoli, Elmwood Park, and Chester Witt, Deerfield, Ill., assignors to Mojonnier Bros. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois p d- *y Y Y Application April to, 195s, seal 10.347,922 3 anims.V (c1. 141-25) The present invention Arelates to, a novel apparatus' for transferring fluids from one storage tank to another, and more particularly to a novel pumping apparatus for electing the transfer of lluid milk between a tank truck and a storage container.

lt has become quite common incertain industries to transfer uids from one location to another by means of a truck having a large storage tank mounted on the body thereof. This practice is becoming increasingly popular in the milking industry, in connection with the transfer of milk from the dairy farms to the milk processing plants. In many instances, milk is stored at the farm in large tanks from which the milk must be pumped to the tank truck. In order to transfer the milk from the storage tank to the tank truck, it is generally desirable to mount a pump permanently on the truck. In general, such a pump may be either a positive displacement pump or a centrifugal pump. It has been found that a centrifugal pump is preferable for such an installation since it is generally less expensive, requires less horsepower to do the work, is easier to clean, requires less maintenance, and is substantially lighter in weight than a positive pump that will do the same amount of Work in the same time. However, centrifugal pump installations have certain disadvantages, one being that a centrifugal pump is not sulciently self-priming to draw fluids from a substantial distance below the pump, and another is that a centrifugal pump sharply loses its eiciency, or even stops, pumping, on becoming airbound. Because of these disadvantages heretofore, centrifugal pumps have not been satisfactory on milk trucks, because there are many instances where the milk storage tank on the farm is located in a basement or otherwise well below ground level so that a centrifugal pump could not create a sucient suction head intially to draw the milk from nited States Patent O the storage tank, and, in addition," such pumps would become airbound when the level of the milkrin the storage tank was reduced to a point where air could enter the hose or other conduit connecting the storage tank `with the pump. f

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel centrifugal pump installation primarily for use with tank trucks, by which installation the above menv tioned disadvantages of centrifugalpumps are overcome.

Another object of this'invfention is to provide a novel centrifugal pump installation, which installation includes means for priming the centrifugal pump and for preventing the centrifugal pump from becoming airbound.

Another object of the'present invention is to provide a novel pump installation of the above described type, vwhich pump installation may be used not only to transfer fluid from a storage tank intoY the tank truck, but also to transfer lluid from the tank truck to any desired point of discharge.

A still further and important object of the invention, is to provide a pumpinstallation of the foregoing type, particularly adapted for'maintained' sanitation, and for the handling of fluid milk.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention tbe accompanyingdrawings, whereioz-I j.

2,781,798 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 Fig. l is a side elevational view of a tank truck for which the principles of this invention are especially useful;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view, showing the novel Huid pumping installation of this invention mounted on a tank truck and connecte-d with a Stora-ge tank located below ground level in a manner to transfer the uid from the storage tank to the tank truck;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing novel pumping installationconnected with another storage tank in a mannerto transfer the fluid from the tank truck to the storage tank; p

Fig. 4 isan enlarged fragmentary end view similar'fto Fig. 2 and showing the novel features of this invention in greater detail; and 'y Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken along in Fig. 4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a tank truck 10, embodying the principles of this invention, is shown best in Fig. l. 'Ihe truck 10 may be of any standard design and includes a large tank 12. In cases where the present invention is to be applied to milk trucks, the walls of the tank 12 may be insulated, and means may be provided for cooling tank 12 in the usual manner. A compartment 14 for housing the pumping installation of this invention is located at any desired point on the truck and preferably at the end thereof, as illustrated. As shown best in Fig. 5, one vertical wall 16 of the compartment 14 and the top wall 18 of the compartment are positioned so that `a corner portion 20 extends into the compartment, whereby the compartment is cooled by the tank. The walls and the door 22 of the compartment are insulated so that the interior of the compartment is maintained in a cooled condition.

As shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, the novel pumping installation of this invention includes a centrifugal pump 24 mounted on a frame 26, which frame may be secured to the bottom 2S of the compartment in any suitable manner. Anvelectric motor StB is also mounted on the frame line 5-5 2,6 and is operatively connected with the centrifugal pump drawn against the flange of the shank 4t) by a nut 4S.

The remaining end of the T-section'is connected to valve 50 by any suitable means, such as the coupling 52. The valve 50 communicates with the interior of thetank 12 through a passageway 54. formed ina mounting block 56 Welded or otherwise secured to the tank. An actuating handle 58 is provided for opening and closing the valve for a purpose to be fully described below. It should be understood that the valve 5t) may be yof any suitable type which will enable the flow of liquid through the valvel to be adjusted .to any desired amount, and of maintained sanitation.

The outlet 69 of the pump is connected with the truck tank through aT-pipe section 62, a valve 64, and any suitable coupling 66. The valve 64 is opened and closed by means of an actuating handle 63. The T-pipe section 62 includes a shank 70 having an enlarged anged end 72 for connection with a hose or conduit similar to the hose 44 for a purpose to'be'described below. However, whenthe pumping system is connected for pumping fluid from a storage tank intothe tank of the truck, the open end of the shank 7,0 is closed byany suitable cap 74.

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In general.. it desirable to `operate the. electric @man motor 30 from a source of electric energy other than the usual truck battery. Therefore, a reel 76 lis provided for mounting a long electric cord 7 S, which includes the usual plug for connection with an velectric outlet. In practice, the electric outlet will generally be provided onV the `building housing the `storage tank from which the fini-d is transferred to the truck tank. The electric cord 78 is opera-V- tivefly connected with the motor 3G in any' suitable trianner, not shown.

The reel 76 is mounted within a `compartment S0, which compartment mayl conveniently be located kon top of the pump compartment 14. The reel compartment 30 is provided with a door 82 which may be opened-to permit the electric cord to ybe withdrawn. Compartment 89 need not be refrigerated.

'I'he reel 76 is rotatably mounted on an axle 84, which axle in turn is supported by brackets 86 and 88 ,secured to the top of the compartment 8). The electric cord is guided from the rcel by means of ,a pair of rollers 99 and 92 suitably mounted on the end of an arm 94 secured to the bracket 36.

The operationV of the novel fluid transferring installation of this invention is as follows. The tank trunk is, of counse, first driven to the desired ylocation near the storage tank from which the fluid is to be transferred. Fig. 2 il lustratcs the use of this invention for transferring milk lirom a storage tank 96 in a milk house 9S. lt should be noted that as o ten occurs in actual practice, the storage tank 96 Iis located Wcllfbelow the level of the yground il on which the tank trunk rests. After thetrunk is in position, the those is uncoiled from lits storage location in the compartment i4, and 'one end of the fhoscl is connected to the outlet 102 of the `storage tank 96. The opposite end of the hose 42 has generally been previously connected with the inlet side of the centrifugal pump through the Tapipe section 38 in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The electric cord 78 is then connected with an electric .outlet 104 on the milk house wall by means of the usual plug 106.

The installation is now ready to begin transferring milk from the storage tank 96, through hose 42, and through pipe section 36, pump 24, pipe section 66, and valve 64 to the truck 12. However, it has been found that centnifugal pumps cannot produce a suicient suction head initially to draw the milk from a tank located welll below the pump, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, in accorda-nce with this invention, the valve 50 is partially opened Vto permit a slight flow of milk from the tinck tank 12 through the T-pipe 33 and to the inlet side of the pump.

it has 'been found that this slight flow of liquid primesV the pun-1p sufficiently to enable the pump to draw the milk p from a tank positioned in the manner shown in Fig. 2. After the milk starts flowing from the storage tank 96 to the tank truck 12, the valve 50 may be closed if desired. However, if this is done, when the level of the milk in the storage tank 96 is reduced to the .point where air bubbles enter the hose 42 and :the centrifugal purnp, the efficiency yof the pump is greatly reduced, and in most instances, the pumping action is stopped altogether. so that the storage tank cannot be completely drained. The present invention also overcomes this disadvantage since it has been found that by again opening the valve Si) so as yto permit a small amount of liquid to Irecirculate from the truck tank 12 through the pump, the recirculating liquid prevents the centrifugal pump from becoming airbouud so that the pump completely drains the storage tank 96. A

Another advantage of the novel `pump-ing installation of this invention is that the same pump may begused not only to transfer liquid from a storage tankvinto -the tank truck, but also to transfer liquid from the tank truck to another storage tank, such asa tank 108, at a milk processing plant. This operation is illustrated in Fig.- 3, wherein it is seen that the lhose`42 has been connected fi to the outlet side of the pump through the shank 70 `of the T-pipe section 62. It is understood, of course, that before the hose is connected to the shank 70, the cap 74 is removed therefrom and used to close the end of the shank 40 of the T-pipe section 38. After 'the hose 42 has been connected to the shank 70, the valve Si) is fully opened to permit the maximum flow of liquid therethrough. Itis understood, of course, that the valve 64 has been previously fully closed.

From the above description, itis seen that the present invention provides a novel liquid transferring apparatus which is fully capable of carrying out the objects set forth hereinabove. More specifically, because of thc novel arrangement of conduits and valves connecting the centrifugal pump with the tank trunk, the centrifugal pump may be primed initially to start the pumping action and also to insure complete draining of a storage tank. In addition, it is seen that in the arrangement provided the same means or valve 50 which is used kfor priming the pump when uid is being transferred into the trunk tank is also used for connecting the pump with the tank when liquid is being transferred out of the truck tank.

Furthermore it is to be noted that the installation is by its arrangement particularly adapted for the handling of sterile fluids,` such as milk, in that it is adapted for maintained sanitation, under refrigerated conditions; and is by its arrangement enabled `to handle fluid milk without contamination or excessive turbulence or other factors of damage to the milk bodies.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beenA shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: Y

l. AnV apparatus for transferring liquid, comprising a mobile base, a tank mounted on said base,` a compartment mounted on said base and including a portion of said tank for heat exchange purposes, a centrifugal pump having an inlet and an outlet and mounted in said compartment, conduit means including an adjustable valve connecting said tank and said inlet of the pump, a second conduit means including a valve connecting said tank and the outlet of the Vpump and said first mentioned conduit means including meansV adapted Ito be connected with a source of liquidfor transferring liquid from said source yto said tank.

2. An apparatus for transferring liquids, comprising a mobile base, a tank mounted on said base, a compartment mounted on said base and including a portion of said tank for heat exchange purposes, a centrifugal pump having an inlet and an outlet and mounted in said compartment, means connecting the outlet of said pump with said tank, means separately connecting the inlet of said pump and `said tank in position for priming said pump, and means for connecting` the inlet of said pump with a source of liquid to be transferred.

3. Anapparatus for transferring liquid, comprising a mobile base,v tank means ,for confining a body of liquid, a compartment mounted onsad base and including a portion of' said tankn'leans for heat exchange purposes. a centrifugal pump mounted in said compartment and having an inlet and an outlet, meansconnecting the outlet of said centrifugal pump'with said liquid confining means,

means separately connecting the inlet of. said centrifugal pump and said liquidI confining means in position for priming said centrifugal pump, andrneans for connecting the inlet of said centrifugal pump with a source of liquid to be transferred to said liquid retaining means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

